Li Ji kept his promise and had the guest room next door prepared for Hua Manman to move into.
Hua Manman could finally have a bed all to herself. ’This is wonderful!’
However, when night fell and she was about to get into bed, she saw Prince Zhao walk in, dressed in loose sleeping robes.
He announced that he would also be sleeping here tonight.
Hua Manman was utterly bewildered.
"Isn’t your room next door?"
Li Ji said, "I’ve decided to move in with you."
Hua Manman retorted, "But didn’t you promise to let have a room to myself?"
Li Ji smiled faintly. "I only promised to let you move sowhere else. I never said I wouldn’t move in with you."
Hua Manman was speechless.
’No wonder he agreed so readily. So this was his plan all along!’
’He really is a dog!’
Now thoroughly suspicious of this man, Hua Manman couldn’t help but ask.
"You promised you wouldn’t give any more ’howork.’ That’s still true, right?"
Li Ji replied, "Of course."
"Swear it," Hua Manman pressed.
"I swear," Li Ji said. "If I’m lying, I’m a puppy."
’You’re already a dog,’ Hua Manman thought, but her common sense stopped her from saying it out loud.
Once they were both in bed, Li Ji once again pulled her into his arms.
She sighed internally. After all that, she was right back where she started.
’I got my hopes up for nothing.’
...
Although Li Ji was constantly attached to Hua Manman, he hadn’t forgotten to investigate the attempt on her life.
He ordered his n to compile a list of everyone who had been near Hanzhang Hall on the day Hua Manman disappeared.
Naturally, Li Ji’s actions did not escape the notice of the Emperor’s spies.
But the Emperor did not intervene.
He, too, wanted to know who would dare cause such trouble in the Imperial Palace.
Soon, Li Ji received a complete list.
His gaze swept over the nas one by one, soon stopping on the na Yin iren.
Hua Manman rarely entered the Imperial Palace and had almost no dealings with its residents.
To date, she had only made a handful of enemies.
Yin iren was one of them.
Just then, a rumor began to circulate in the palace: Lady Hua had nearly died because she was attacked by the ghost of a forr empress.
Otherwise, why would she have been thrown into the well in Chaoyang Palace of all places, in a palace so vast?
The rumors were surprisingly detailed, and combined with the existing tales of Chaoyang Palace being haunted, many people actually started to believe them.
So even urged the Emperor to send Lady Hua out of the palace at once, lest she fall victim to the forr empress’s ghost again.
The Emperor had never believed in ghosts or spirits, so he naturally scoffed at the idea.
Upon hearing of this, Li Ji ordered his n to trace the source of the rumors.
After so digging, the investigation ultimately led back to Yin iren.
As for Yin iren, she had been in high spirits ever since throwing Hua Manman into the old well.
That is, until she heard that Hua Manman hadn’t died and was back at Prince Zhao’s side. Her mood instantly soured.
A deep sense of unease began to creep over her.
’What if Prince Zhao finds out I tried to murder Hua Manman?’
’Knowing his personality, he definitely wouldn’t let off lightly.’
To clear her na, Yin iren deliberately had people spread the ghost story, hoping to bla the attack on Lady Hua entirely on a spirit.
The Empress heard the rumor as well.
Having managed the imperial harem for many years, she knew perfectly well that soone was spreading these rumors deliberately.
So she also sent people to investigate.
When the investigation led to Yin iren, she was so angry she had to laugh.
"How long has she been in the palace? She already dares to act so presumptuously? She must have a death wish."
Though furious, the Empress still considered their family ties and imdiately sent for Yin iren.
When Yin iren arrived, she feigned innocence and asked respectfully.
"Aunt, for what reason have you summoned ?"
The Empress sneered. "I called you here to save your life."
Yin iren didn’t understand and looked at her in confusion.
The Empress didn’t explain, only saying, "Just wait and see."
They did not have to wait long before news arrived.
Prince Zhao had sent n to Yin iren’s residence, reportedly to question her, but they had found no one and returned empty-handed.
Hearing this, Yin iren broke out in a cold sweat.
’If I hadn’t co to Fengyi Palace, Prince Zhao’s n would have caught for sure.’
’Knowing his thods, he certainly wouldn’t have let off easy.’
Yin iren looked anxiously toward the Empress, who was seated in the place of honor.
The Empress saw her expression and sneered again.
"So now you’re scared? Why weren’t you scared when you were acting so recklessly?"
At this point, Yin iren knew everything she had done must have been discovered.
She no longer dared to feign ignorance. She hurriedly dropped to her knees, crying and pleading.
"Aunt, I was reckless! I shouldn’t have acted on my own! Please, help !"
The Empress said, "Isn’t that what I’m doing right now?"
Yin iren said quickly, "Thank you for saving my life, Aunt!"
The Empress instructed, "You are to stay here for the ti being. Do not go out. No matter how audacious Prince Zhao may be, he wouldn’t dare force his way into Fengyi Palace."
Besides, even if Prince Zhao dared to storm Fengyi Palace, the Emperor would never allow it.
Regardless of their private relationship as husband and wife, they had to maintain a veneer of mutual respect for the sake of appearances.
In the eyes of others, the imperial couple was a single entity.
Their honor and disgrace were shared.
Yin iren relaxed slightly.
But then a new worry creased her brow. With a long face, she said, "I can hide for a ti, but not forever. I can’t hide here with you for the rest of my life."
The Empress gave a aningful smile.
"It won’t be for long. Prince Zhao has been afflicted with a deadly poison. He doesn’t have much longer to live."
Yin iren knew that Prince Zhao was poisoned, but she hadn’t known it was fatal.
Upon hearing this, she was overjoyed.
’As long as Prince Zhao dies, no one will bother to investigate my attempt on Lady Hua’s life anymore.’
Yin iren began to pray silently.
’I hope Prince Zhao dies soon.’
...
Li Ji’s n ca back empty-handed. He had them investigate and soon learned that Yin iren had taken refuge in Fengyi Palace.
Fengyi Palace was the Empress’s residence, and Yin iren was her niece.
It was clear the Empress intended to protect her.
An ordinary person would have likely dropped the matter at this point.
After all, they were dealing with the Empress.
Li Ji, however, seed to have been born without a single shred of hesitation.
He settled into his wheelchair and said to Chen Wangbei.
"To Fengyi Palace."
Chen Wangbei hesitated. "Your Highness, you haven’t fully recovered. It might be best not to go out just yet."
Li Ji shot him a cold glance.
"Do as I say. If you’re not willing, I’ll find soone who is."
Chen Wangbei imdiately fell silent and did as he was told.
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